Raining Hard

Chapter 9: "Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget—lest we forget!" -Rudyard Kipling

Elemental and her students woke up to a cloudy gray morning. Elem's homemade Sleepy Time tea had done the trick and Alex was fast asleep on the couch with a throw covering him. Elemental only smiled as she tiptoed past him to the kitchen. She did not have her shoulder restraint anymore, nor did she have to keep her left leg immobile, but her left shoulder wasn't to be overused. To Alex, this meant she shouldn't do anything other than rest, but Elemental wasn't about to let him get away with that. She was doing plenty of things when he wasn't looking.

Elemental stepped into the kitchen to find it empty, however her special Sleepy Time tea canister had been moved, so someone had obviously made some tea last night.

Today was Saturday. This meant that everyone slept in except Elemental. This was her sacred time that was hers alone. It had always been that way, although Alex was a welcome addition to her morning.

Hikari and Sakura were more than willing to sleep in especially if it meant no hard practice in the afternoon. Both were working on keeping their GPA high and it didn't help to have them pulling late nights all week and then not having a chance to catch up on their sleep. They managed to juggle projects that Elemental gave them, keeping 4.1 and 3.9 GPAs respectively, and be outstanding martial arts students.

"They deserve some time off." Elemental said to herself as she got a cup of coffee.

She could feel the peace in her house as she entered the living room where Alex was sleeping. Or at least waking up.

"Good morning Alex."

"Did I fall asleep?"

"By the looks of things, yes."

"Remind me to hurt Sakura."

Elemental smiled. "She gave you my Sleepy Time tea."

"Figured as much."

"You must have been really tired if you forgot to smell the tea."

Alex ran a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah, must of been."

Alex sat up on the couch and allowed his best friend to sit next to him. Elemental sat as close as she could to him, partly because the morning was cold, partly because she liked his presence near her.

"Coffee?"

Elemental handed over the mug to his waiting hands as she searched for the remote. Alex smiled as he smelled the coffee. Starbucks. She always had Starbucks coffee on hand and a Starbucks Card in her wallet. He took a gulp and handed her back the mug as she flipped on the television. She went directly to Fox News for a morning update.

As the anchor's voice dabbled into the room, Alex spread the blanket over himself and Elemental. She leaned her head on his shoulder and pulled her feet up onto the couch. Alex kissed the top of her head as a brother would and put an arm about her for warmth and to keep her close.

They both knew today was the calm before the storm. The Battle of Year 22 would begin in the near near future.

*~Switch Scene~*

Jade was surfing the web with her laptop, a present from Elemental and her two students. It was a lazy day. She had finished her homework (Elemental had been an excellent influence on her over the 3 weeks Jade had known her) for the weekend except for one project that was due on Tuesday instead of Monday. In fact that was why she was surfing. Her project was to find a figure who she admired. The figure could be current or historical and there would be an oral presentation in front of the class.

Jade had gone through every person possible. From Harriet Tubman to Brittany Spears, she had religiously, zealously even, searched to find a person she related to. Jade had no such luck. She had talked to classmates as they were leaving on Friday, and everybody knew who they were doing. Some chose musicians, some chose politicians, some chose cartoon characters, but Jade had brainstormed every possibility and had gotten zilch.

Jackie poked his head in Jade's door. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"Would you like some orange juice or some cereal?"

"Not really."

"What's going on? You usually ask for a doughnut or sugary cereal."

Jade took a deep breath. "I don't have a person for my project."

"What kind of project?"

"We're supposed to find someone that we admire and give a report on them."

"Who do you admire?"

"You, Uncle, Tohru, but I don't think my teacher would enjoy hearing about Chi spells and magic talismans. And no offense Jackie, but your career sucks."

Jackie smiled. "I know it seems boring to you, and no offense taken."

"I don't know who to do." Jade unceremoniously slammed her head down on her bedspread.

Jackie came into the room and sat on the bed next to her perplexed form. "Jade, sometimes there are people to admire, but your looking in the wrong place to find them. Most people are honest and hard working. And then there are those people that stand out, even in everyday life. You can admire a teacher, a friend or even a parent or family member. They don't have to be famous, and they don't have to be dead."

Jade looked at Jackie.

"Besides, Jade, I can think of two people off the top of my head that would be great people to write about."

"Who?"

"You're going to have to figure out who you admire on your own. And in the meantime, what about breakfast?"

"Okay. But I still don't know who you're talking about."

"You'll figure it out," Jackie said as he followed Jade out the door.

*~Jade's POV~*

I didn't know that Saturday would be my last day of peace before I saw the most amazing thing happen. All I knew when I woke up on that morning was that I didn't have a person to write a report on. However that would all change by the next day.

*~Jackie's POV~*

Something in the air of Saturday morning told me to be careful. There was something coming and I waited anxiously all day. Jade seemed to be content though restless. Captain Black was restless to a fault. He was walking the length of Section 13 in 15 minutes at the fastest and 30 minutes at the slowest. Around and around he paced. Something was up. The air said it and Captain Black confirmed it.

*~Black's POV~*

Elemental. That was the only name I could think of on Saturday. She was my main priority even though I couldn't save her or rescue her. I prayed fervently all that fateful day that she wouldn't be hurt. That she would come out of this weekend unscathed, but unfortunately God said no to my request. And when Monday came, it was the most welcome day of my life.

*~Hikari's POV~*

Sensei probably thought that Sakura and I were sleeping Saturday morning, but as she would discover later, that was a completely false assumption. We were both wide-awake and staring at the ceiling. Something had told me to wake up. Something was telling me today was the last day of peace for a while. The message was so urgent, I had to obey.

*~Sakura's POV~*

8:03. Again with the damn odd numbers. But something was different this time. It was morning and there was a heaviness in the air that had not been there previously. Today something was going to happen. I got up and went to Hikari's room to wait with her. We both laid on her bed and stared at the ceiling. We waited for the inevitable.

*~Alex's POV~*

Today was the last day of peace. Soon would come the fight of Year 22. God, please please please please please keep her from harm. I know she has to fight. I know she has made a promise, but please don't let her get hurt too badly. Let this be a simple battle and not a physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological one. K-chan doesn't need that now. Please, she doesn't need that now.

*~Elemental's POV~*

The battle comes. I must prepare.

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AN: The title of the chapter comes from of Rudyard Kipling's poems: Recessional. Here is the text in full:

GOD of our fathers, known of old

Lord of our far-flung battle-line,

Beneath whose awful Hand we hold

Dominion over palm and pine

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies

The captains and the kings depart

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget!

Far-call'd our navies melt away

On dune and headland sinks the fire

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose

Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe

Such boasting as the Gentiles use

Or lesser breeds without the Law

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust

In reeking tube and iron shard

All valiant dust that builds on dust,

And guarding calls not Thee to guard

For frantic boast and foolish word,

Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!